WPA is "freeing up" its group underwriting methods through greater use of automation, allowing instant quoting and real time data of who is on risk.
The health insurer is currently trialling with two large group risk consultancies, which it declined to name, to standardise how they send information to WPA.
Once case details are standardised WPA will be in a position to send back an instant quote followed "almost immediately" with a phone call to refine the quote through discussion of the client company's needs.
WPA is also developing a semi automated XML database designed to allow the adviser an up to date list of which individuals in a company are still on risk in the corporate schemes they administer.
Adrian Humphreys, managing director of corporate group at WPA, said: "We already do this when the client is a large company and we can tap directly into their pay roll, but this is an extension into the smaller SME market."
Asked whether he thought these systems would be available to all IFAs the insurer dealt with Humphreys said: "That would be perfection and it is possible. Although we are working on this with the larger brokerages we have found that in many examples the smaller IFAs are extremely competent technologically . So can we work this with all size brokers? Absolutely, no reason why not.
"The main point is that we don't want to leap in too quick with this, we are just trying to get free up how we do business and get rid of the dead matter from the underwriting system. The idea is to make time to actually talk to brokers rather than take up all their time with admin tasks."
